End of an Era

Mexia losing its National Guard unit; Disposition of facility to be made soon

By Bob Wright-Editor

EDITOR’s NOTE: More information about closing of the armory is to follow in another story. The “info” will include a local governmental entity which probably will wind up with the property.

In the early 1940s, the Mexia National Guardsmen were mobilized for service in World War II.

The late Ray Purcell was Commanding Officer of the unit, which underwent some rapid training as world war loomed heavily in the minds of everybody.

Many from the unit returned to their homes in Mexia. Several did not, losing their lives in defense of our freedoms and for more freedoms throughout the world.

The announcement that Mexia is losing its National Guard unit undoubtedly conjures up many emotions. It’s sad that the unit is shut down. Disposition of the armory will soon be determined by the Adjutant General’s Department, based in Austin, according to Technical Sergeant Gregory Ripps, based with the Texas National Guard-Austin headquarters.

The original National Guard Unit was based in a red brick building’s upstairs on North McKinney Street. That building was across from the Post Office and was razed to make way for construction of the First Mexia Bank. The old building also served as the Mexia Fire Department.

The new armory was not built until around 1960. Captain Tom Cameron, retired Superintendent of the Fairfield Independent School District, served as Commanding Officer just before the unit moved to the East Tyler Street location.

The local unit is already moving out of the Mexia Armory this summer. Currently located here was Company C of the 536th Signal Battalion, being inactivated as part of the “Army’s Transformation Campaign,” Sergeant Ripps says. “The Texas National Guard does not plan at the present time to re-station another unit at the Mexia armory,” he added.

The decision to disband the local unit was based on demographics - too few Guardsmen residing near the armory - and was approved by Lieutenant General Charles G. Rodriguez, Adjutant General of Texas; Major General John Furlow, assistant Adjutant General and 36th Infantry Division Commander; and Major General Daniel Densford, Texas Army National Guard Commander.

Soldiers of Company C were informed of their unit’s inactivation and were given an opportunity to choose the unit to which they wanted to transfer. Some of the soldiers have already transferred to a signal company in Waxahachie.